Hello! We're so glad you've found us! I'm Laura, one of the General Forum Administrators. I'm generally a good person to direct questions, comments, or even complaints to, because at the very least I can direct you to the right person! I am also one of the past moderators of the Ask the Expert Forum, so if you post there, don't be surprised if I email you either to ask for more detail or offer my non-expert 2c. I live in Anchorage, Alaska with my husband Jack and I'm a SAHM to my two girls Alica (7) and Camille (2)

I had severe preeclampsia with my first child Allie, and I delivered her by emergency c-section at 35 weeks. After I was originally discharged with normal pressures, I was readmitted several days later with postpartum preeclampsia.

I found the Foundation during my second pregnancy. I'd blissfully gotten pregnant again (after PCOS induced infertility) four years later after being assured by one and all that preeclampsia doesn't happen twice- well, never being one to do what was told, I started getting sick again around 25 weeks. I eventually was diagnosed with chronic hypertension and developed severe oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid, a common complication of hypertensive pregnancies) and was on bedrest (modified then strict) from 26 weeks until I delivered by repeat section at 36 weeks. Plenty long enough time to develop a raging internet addiction AND complsive need to find out what's going on "on the boards." Anne, our trusty Executive Director and our resident "Tiki Goddess" converted that compulsion into sheer slave labor and here I am, happily still here, almost two years later.

Why am I still here? Because I will always, always, always remember the sheer terror I felt being the first one to "know" there was something off in that second pregnancy. It felt like I was tied to the railroad tracks, with the train coming straight at me. I hope that my time here will be spent helping others in that situation realize they're not alone and there is hope.

Here are some ways you can help, too:

Donate to the Preeclampsia Foundation:
https://fp7.adhost.com/preeclampsia/donate.cfm

Sign up with the Preeclampsia Registry:
http://www.preeclampsia.org/adopt.cfm

Shop for t-shirts, mousepads, and mugs to support the Preeclampsia Foundation:
http://www.cafeshops.com/preeclampsiaorg

Now, the crib sheet:

Do you wanna know if it's going to happen again? Read this link:
http://www.preeclampsia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331

Do you wanna avatar? Here's how ya do it:
http://www.preeclampsia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3481

Do you wanna know what the rules are? Here they are:
http://www.preeclampsia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4686

Do you wanna know what all those crazy abbreviations mean? Look here:
http://www.preeclampsia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2675